Moles definitely cause damage to our lawns. However, they can be a benefit to our ecosystem (a community of biotic and abiotic organisms) and the environment (provides a place for these organisms to interact). For example, they can make positive contributions to the health of the landscape. Their mound building and relentless tunneling mixes soil nutrients and facilitates soil aeration and drainage. Moles also eat many lawn and garden pests, such as slugs and crane fly larvae. Unfortunately, the moles favorite food is earth worms, which also improves soil aeration and improves soil health. Give us a call, we have a solution.

Termites and other Wood Destroying Organisms (WDOs)

Do you think you may have WDOs? If any of the following evidence is present, you probably should schedule a termite/WDO consultation:

Abandoned insect wings left on windowsills

Mud tubes in subareas that connect earth to wood

Small holes with powder or sand like substances underneath

Ecosystem Pest Solutions starts with a consultation and an inspection of your home, focusing on conditions that we know often lead to termites, such as water leaks and damage. Our inspectors are highly trained and skilled at locating places where termites or other WDOs (wood-destroying beetles, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, dry rot and other fungi) are active.

The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) is a avid eater of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental crops in North America, causing millions of dollars of damage.

Currently, there are no sustainable strategies for control of H. halys. The use of insecticides has no long-term effect. In addition, there is evidence these true bugs have developed some resistance to insecticides. Even with effective treatments in some situations, continued activity or repopulation occurs through migration from non-treated areas.

H. halys indoor activity prevention can be achieved through integrative pest management. Mechanical methods, such as the removal of window AC units, placement of screens over doors, windows and vents are effective tools. Caulking cracks in windows and door frames can also prevent the adults from entering.However, if small numbers appear indoors, they can be removed with a shop-vacuum.

Carpenter ants

Carpenter ants, specifically Camponotus modoc here in the PNW are a wood destroying insect. Although the damage C. modoc causes is typically less than termite colonies, they do not eat wood in the home, but they do chew and excavate wood and other softer building materials, and they can enter in large numbers. They will even infest wall voids, making nests in the insulation. The wood in the home that they typically affect has excess moisture content. If you listen closely when it’s quiet, you can hear their activity. We’ve been called out to several rodent inspections, finding out upon arrival, our customer’s home was infested with C. modoc.

Ants, like all insects, have three body parts: a head at the front where antennae are attached, a thorax in the middle where all the legs and wings are attached and an abdomen at the back. This differs from termites. Termites have straight bodies and antennae. As with termites, there is a winged version too.

Odorous House Ants

Polygynous colony hierarchies may have developed as an adaptation to nest site capacity, environmental disturbances caused by human behavior and natural processes, food resources, overpopulation, and habitat patchiness. Over time, polygynous colonies have adapted to human interaction. They have gained the competitive edge in urban environments by creating long-lived, fast-growing colonies that spread quickly and can adapt easily. Similar to mice and rats, ant species are becoming increasingly commensal, and the odorous house ant (Tapinoma sessile) is no exception.

T. sessile colonies are polygynous (multiple reproductive queens in one colony) and polydomous, i.e., individuals of the principal nests function as a cooperative unit and
regularly go back and forth between nests. However, because T. sessile and other ant colonies function at various organizational levels, identifying these boundaries is
difficult. This can pose complex problems, such as colony budding, if not treated or
identified properly.

Polygynous colonies generally have a greater survival rate, primarily because they are prone to a higher amount of genetic variation since multiple queens increase variation along a number of different patrilines (fathers), whereas monogynous colonies with queens that mate only once or twice have a highly homogeneous (similar) genetic portrait. Polygyny generally leads to greater niche exploitation. Much of the time, they exploit habitats and food sources we have placed adjacent to our homes (e.g. flower beds and the ensuing honey dew by-product from aphids). Unfortunately, movement among multiple colonies within our homes is becoming all too common, especially during the winter months when natural T. sessile food sources (i.e. honey dew) are depleted. They exploit our wall voids, electrical sockets, and even our electronic equipment (e.g. computers and TV’s).

Bald Faced Hornets

Habits

Bald faced hornets are not true hornets (it is a yellow jacket, an ‘aerial yellowjacket’; one of 7 or 8 species in the genus Dolichovespula in North America., however, they are social insects. They live in colonies that may contain between 100 and 400 members at their peak, usually at their largest in late summer. Unlike other stinging insects, bald faced hornets do not reuse their nests season after season.

Habitat

Bald faced hornets build paper nests at least three or more feet off of the ground (6-8 feet is not uncommon), usually in trees, shrubs, on overhangs (e.g., eaves). These nests can be as large as 14 inches in diameter and more than 24 inches in length. The nest below, which I eliminated from one of my customers back yard trees) is 12 inches in diameter and 18 inches in length. It was plenty active, easily in the 300 member range. You can see some of the members (black spots) on the nest. Check out the video below. Sorry about the movement, but with a bee suit and thick gloves on, it is difficult to see and hold my phone still. However, you can see the high aggressiveness and activity level. Yes, those are hornets buzzing around bouncing off my hood.

Threats

Remember, bald faced hornets are yellow jackets. They are extremely aggressive and will attack anyone or anything that invades their space. This makes bald faced hornet removal difficult. Bald faced hornets have smooth stingers, allowing them to sting over and over again. Trust me, bald faced hornet stings introduce venom that makes the stings hurt, itch and swell for about 24 hours. Allergic reactions from bald faced hornet stings, as with other insect stings, can occur.

This picture is the inner workings of the above nest. Left over workers, along with the queen, tending to eggs, larvae, and pupae.